On Everton’s self-styled School of Science day – celebrating the club’s halcyon days of the 1960s – it was Arsenal who showed they had learnt a lesson. This was not about aesthetically pure football, fine passing and clever play but about something far more fundamental and something that Arsène Wenger’s team have been accused of lacking for years: they showed a harder edge and a resilience in gathering adversity.

Overwhelmed by Everton in the first-half, nursing a sense of grievance at the second goal, overrun for long periods and wretchedly poor in front of goal there were just seven minutes left when Arsenal went about salvaging this game, rescuing a point and showing they can be a team of substance this campaign.

Once again it was Aaron Ramsey who was the instigator, another goal from the Welsh midfielder started the comeback, with the 23-year-old having scored four times in his last five league games, and showing the leadership qualities that Arsenal have sometimes been lacking.

“Maybe our spirit got us that point,” Wenger said which are words which will have felt sweet for him to utter. “We gave a great response with complete desire and the spirit was fantastic. We got it back to 2-2 and got a strong point and a deserved one.” The concern for him will be that the rally came after Alexis Sanchez, starting as the lone striker and acquired at a cost of £35 million, had departed with Wenger claiming the Chilean’s confidence is suffering because of a lack of fitness. It also followed the substitution of Jack Wilshere, again a confusingly ineffective presence in midfield. Wenger’s changes made a difference – not least the introduction of striker Olivier Giroud who scored the equaliser with an emphatic close-range header in the 90th minute but who also had three other opportunities that could have won the game for Arsenal. Worryingly, Giroud then departed with an ankle injury and is now a doubt for the Champions League tie against Besiktas.

For Everton manager Roberto Martinez this was bewilderingly frustrating as his team appeared to be heading comfortably towards a second successive victory over Arsenal having beaten them 3-0 here last April.

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“For 75 minutes it was the perfect performance, very similar to the one not so long ago when we faced Arsenal,” he said. “We were full of dynamic energy and stopped Arsenal from having a shot on target. We scored two goals and that should have been enough.” Indeed it should — but instead of two victories Everton have just two draws this season — having also been frustrated by Leicester City last weekend after twice taking the lead. “The dressing room is showing a lot of frustration because we should have six points rather than two but there is a real exciting future.” There is. Everton certainly showed the desire to dispel any doubts that last season’s refreshing campaign could not be sustained. Tactically Martinez, also, once again 'did a number’ on Wenger as he pushed his record signing Romelu Lukaku across to occupy Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal, altering his formation to a

4-3-3, and demanded his players press high up the pitch.

Arsenal did not like it. Wenger brought in two of his World Cup winning Germans but it was an uncomfortable contest for Per Mertesacker while Mesut Ozil was culpable for Everton’s first goal. That third German? Lukas Podolski did not even make the squad and would appear to be on his way if a buyer can be found before the transfer window closes.

Both of Everton’s goals will have had Martinez purring. The first was an illustration of how he wants his team to build the play – rather than simply sling in hopeful free-kicks. Instead the ball was played short and quickly ferried through the midfield to Leighton Baines who cleverly turned it back infield to Gareth Barry. He teed it up and delivered to the back post where Seamus Coleman ran in to head home, squeezing the ball high into the net as Wojciech Szczesny desperately tried to cover. Ozil stood watching.

Soon after, with Arsenal reeling, Everton should have added another with a more direct approach as Steven Naismith steered a header over Calum Chambers for Kevin Mirallas to run through. Clear on goal Mirallas stumbled as he shot and the ball rolled narrowly wide.

But the second goal did come. Once again it was a vindication of Martinez’s tactics as, down the right flank, Lukaku rolled Mertesacker, rode Monreal’s rash challenge and sprinted towards goal before sliding the ball to meet Naismith’s angled run. The Scot struck a low shot through Szczesny’s legs and into the goal.

He was offside, but it was not given. Wenger complained that Mertesacker had been fouled too. Again his pleas were ignored and he vented his anger to the fourth official, Michael Oliver. “It was difficult to swallow but we took it on the chin,” Wenger said.

He clearly also vented his frustration to his players at half-time. When play resumed there was more urgency and aggression and although Sanchez had not been among the worst performers, Giroud made a difference, almost scoring as soon as he came on — but slashed a volley over from an acute angle and then had an effort blocked superbly by Tim Howard. Arsenal’s improvement had been dramatic but with no reward.

It came quickly and it owed much to Everton’s poor defending with Ozil finding substitute Santi Cazorla as Coleman stood off him. Cazorla worked his way forward and crossed low into the six-yard area and there, as ever, was Ramsey to force the ball over the line. Surely it was too late?

Soon after and Giroud was presented with an uncontested header from a corner – but steered it wide. Was that it? No, Again Everton were culpable as Monreal crossed from the left and there was Giroud to head home and save a point. “It’s our ambition,” Wenger said when asked if Arsenal were title contender. “We had a big test today.” And they responded.